Painful betrayal

My body shivered at his words. Was this his anniversary gift to me? A betrayal? A stab in the back? It couldn't possibly be.

''How could you do this to me?''

I muttered under my breath, but loud enough for him to hear. Two years with a man I loved dearly and this was how I was being repaid? I went against my own family for him and this was what I get in return? It was all too painful for me to handle.

''Such a pity, my dear, dear wife,''

Jordan smirked, tilting his head backwards, and patting my head gently as he watched with satisfaction, the effect of his words on me. The tears flowing out of my eyes weren't of happiness anymore, it was out of the betrayal my darling husband had given me.

''You know I'm innocent,'' my lips quivered in pain, staring at those satisfied eyes of his, ''You know I didn't murder him. He was my father for crying out loud!''

I allowed my fury and anger get the best of me as I yelled out in pain. My fists tighened in anger and all I wanted to do was slap my husband so hard across the face. The cops around rushed to hold both my hands and pinned them behind my back. They felt I was getting and acting dangerous and was going to hurt Jordan.

''Leave me alone! Let me go!''

I yelled furiously, but no one was paying attention to me. They treated me like a criminal when in fact, the real criminal was standing right in front of me unscathed.

Jordan walked slowly to me, clicking his tongue and shaking his head in pity. I was breathing and panting hard. My tears had stopped flowing, and the only thing surging through my veins in full force, was my fury.

''I feel so sorry for you, Ivy,'' Jordan whispered out of pretense, and in a mocking manner as he continued, ''You deserve to be put behind bars for killing your own father,''

I growled out in anger and frustration, wishing the cops holding me back would let go of me and allow me teach that bastard a lesson. How dare he do this to me? When he knew the whole truth.

''You know who killed him, Jordan,'' I screamed out in frustration, ''Why are you pinning the blame on me? What do you stand to gain doing all of this?''

''Admit the truth, Ivy.'' he ordered through gritted teeth, ''You killed your father,''

''No, you did!''

I screamed out the truth and I could see the fear in his eyes. He walked up to me hastily and in a swift movement, slapped me hard across my face. So hard, I could feel my cheeks burning like it was placed on a hot surface.

''Take her away,'' he commanded, staring down at me in anger. I was tired of crying, and couldn't even feel my emotions anymore. Jordan had managed to put me behind bars and it was all thanks to his influence and wealth. Nobody was going to believe that I was innocent.

I watched in sadness as they dragged me away to a cell. All I could see of the man I called my husband, was his back against me. My whole life came crashing like a well arranged set of cards and there was nothing I could do. The whole situation had made me heartbroken and I had forgotten the happy news I had for Jordan.

_________________________

Like a nightmare, I spent my wedding anniversary night in a cell. There was no one to rescue or even worry about my wellbeing or whereabouts. I had being abandoned, and was totally at the mercy of Jordan and his decisions for me.

The next morning came rather slowly, and I couldn't bring myself to sleep all through the night. I was unsettled, and wasn't just worried about myself, but for the life I was carrying inside of me.

I rubbed my stomach mildly, and a tear escaped my left eye. All I ever wanted and dreamt of was to become a mother. And after two years of seeking for a child, I was finally going to have one.

I made up my mind to tell Jordan about my pregnancy, wishing it would make him change his decisions. As fate would have it, a female warden announced that I had a visitor, and it was my husband.

Jumping to my feet anxiously, I ran out of my cell as soon as it was flung open. The prison warden directed me to where Jordan was waiting for me, and I walked to meet him with mixed emotions.

''Good morning,''

I greeted as soon as I saw him, licking my lips nervously. He nodded at me and pointed at the chair I was supposed to sit.

''I have something to tell you,''

We both said at once, and for a few minutes, silence and tension hung in the air.

''You go first,'' I muttered, breaking the awkward silence and turning my face away uncomfortably.

''Are you sure?''

I heard him ask, and nodded to confirm. Of course, I was eager to know what he wanted to tell me. Maybe it was even better and more important than the news I had for him.

He shook his head slightly, retrieving a brown envelope from his suitcase. I watched him through the corners of my eyes, wondering what the envelope entailed.

''Here,'' he said to me, placing the envelope on the table and pushing it further in front of me, ''I need you to sign this,''

I arched my brows in curiosity, wondering what he was asking me to sign. Giving him a suspicious look, I picked up the envelope quietly. I tore it open slowly and brought out the paperwork lying inside carefully.

My eyes scanned the contents slowly, and suddenly grew wide in surprise. Was I reading it wrong? Or were my eyes deceiving me?

I shifted my gaze to Jordan, with my mouth wide open. Was he being for real? These were–

''Divorce papers?'' I muttered loud in surprise, feeling the hot tears that were starting to form in my eyes, ''You're filling for a divorce?''

I heard Jordan heave a sigh as he rubbed his palms over his face. My heart was bleeding inside, and I just couldn't find a way to express the emotional pain I was feeling.

''Ivy,'' Jordan called slowly, licking his lips nervously, ''This is for the best,''

No, it wasn't! I yelled inside my head. How could he do this to me? Wasn't his betrayal enough? Now he wanted to break off our marriage? Leaving me all alone to rot in jail for a crime I didn't commit? He was heartless!

''Why are you doing all these, Jordan?'' my lips slowly parted to ask, with hot tears falling in full force from my eyes, ''All I ever did was shower you with my love and care. What did I ever do wrong to deserve such betrayal from you?''

My heart was breaking into a thousand pieces and not even a single soul was there for me to help mend it. I began to feel regrets, for all the things I had done just to be with Jordan. He was my worst mistake.

''Ivy,'' he called without any remorseful emotion, leaning towards me ''The earlier you sign it, the better for us,''

He was referring to the divorce papers. Realizing I was still holding them in my hands, I glared at it and ripped it to pieces right in front of him. There was no way I was going to do what he wanted, that era was over. Seeing the shock and anger that clouded his eyes at my actions, I felt a little bit of satisfaction.

''Did you just–''

He was about to ask me, but I interrupted him with a scream fuelled by all the anger and fury I was feeling inside of me.

''Get out!''

My scream seemed to attract the attention of the warden who let me out of my cell. She came rushing to where we sat and caught me panting harder than usual.

''Mrs. Williams,'' she called out to me in fear, seeing how unstable I was. My head started spinning and I was beginning to feel sharp pains below my abdomen. For the second time since I received the news of my pregnancy, I had forgotten to tell Jordan. Except this time, I felt no need to tell him.

''Tell… tell him to leave,'' I stuttered weakly, trying so hard to regain composure. I could see Jordan rushing to help me stand on my feet, but I flung his hands away. He was nothing but a backstabber, and I wanted none of his fake help.

''I'm afraid you have to take your leave now sir,'' the warden announced to him, helping me up to my feet. I heard Jordan mutter something as he turned his back to leave but I couldn't care less. The only word I heard from him was,

''Goodbye, Ivy,''

I had no idea that was the last time I was going to see him. At that moment, nothing else mattered to me other than my unborn baby's life. The warden called my attention to the blood streaming down my legs. It turned out that I was bleeding.

''My baby, my poor baby,'' I cried out in pain, feeling just as hurt as my voice sounded. The pain I was feeling in my stomach was unbearable, and my head spinning wasn't making things easier at all.

The last thing I remembered was seeing the huge crowd hovering over me as thick darkness slowly enveloped my whole sight.